Water-tube boiler



(No Model.) 4sheets-sneet 1, f W. COWLES.

WATER TUBEA VBOILER.

10.465,163. Patenteanecf, 1891.

THE onlus Varens co., mcmruwn.. wnsymc'ran, o. c.

`(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' W. COWLES.

WATER TUBE BOILBR. No. 465,163. Patented Dec. 15, 1891.

|| III (No Model.) 4 sheets-sheet s.

Y W. GOWLES. WATER TUBE BOILBR.

No. 465,163. Patented Deo. 15, 1891.

i .w i

(No Model.) 4 SheetS--Sheet 4.

l W. COWLES. Y WATER TUBE BOILERY. Y No. 465,163. .Patented 1360.15, 1891.

mi mums FETE@ e0., moro-mum, msumm'on, o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE0 lVILLIAM OOWLES, .OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK', ASSIGNOR TO TIIE COWLES ENGINEERING COMPANY, OE JERSEY CITY, NEWT JERSEY.. 1

WATER-TU BE BOILR.

SPECIFICATION formingtpart of Letters Patent No. 465,163, dated December 15, 1891.

v Application filed .Tune 13, 1890. Renewed May 22, 1891. Serial No. 393,709. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM 'CowLns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York,

5 have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tater-Tube Boilers, fully described an d represented in the following speciiication and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same. ro This invention relates to steam-boilers, and

especially to that general class of steam-boilers in which the water is caused to circulate through circulating-tubes between Vone or more water-drums or manifoldsA located at or near f5' the bottom of the boiler and one or more steam-drums or manifolds located at or near the top of the boiler.

It is the-object of the present invention to improve the general construction of boilers of zo this class and to provide a boiler which shall be light, compact, and of simple construction; in which all the parts shall be easily accessible and so constructed-and arranged that the cleaning and repair of any part shall be possible without removing or disturbing other permanent parts of the boiler; in which the heating-surface shall be such as to secure the greatest economy of operation and to avoid danger from overheating-for sudden and unequal heating and cooling, and in which the space for steam and water is enlarged as `greatly as possible and a rapid circulation of all the water secured.

W'ith these ends in view myinvention consists in 'various constructions and combinations of parts, all of which will be more par# ticularly described in the specification, and pointed out in the claims.

Vhile the improvements constituting the present invention are of general application in this class of boilers and such as to constitute a new boiler, the boiler has been .designed especially as an improvement in the type of boiler covered by United States Letters Patent No. 396,545, granted to me January 22, ISSQ.

A single-ended boiler is shown in the Letters Patent above referred to; and one of the general objects of the present invention be- 5o ing to construct a double-ended boiler of this utype the improvements constituting my invention will be described and illustratedv as embodied in a double-ended boiler; but it will be understood that certain improvements included in the invention are applicable to lboilers either of the single-ended or double-ended style. v

In order to aid in a more ready understanding of the detailed description of the construction and organization which will be here- 6o inafter given, a brief general 'description of the organization of a double-ended boiler embodying the present invention will first be given.

The double-ended boiler proper consists of 65 a horizontal cylindrical shell extending transversely to the boiler and opening at each end into a steam-drum, the steam-drums and shell having preferably a common axis and being located at or near the top 'of the boiler. At 7o or near the bottom of the boiler on each side one or more water-drums are located, with preferably va common' axis or axes parallel with the axis of the steam-drums and shell. Extending verticallyor in a substantially vertical direction between the steam and water drums on each side are nests ot' bent or curved circulating-tubes locatedin duplicate parallel rows, the rows beingpin -vertical planes and the space between adjacent rows or each 8o alternate space being sufficient to admit of the passing of any tubein or out. These tubes are preferably expanded into suitably-drilled holes in the drums and furnish communication between the same. lFrom the bottom of '85 the shell one and in large boilers two down-www cast pipes or water-legs extend out horizontally and then down to the bottom of th boiler, where they branch into two pipes,"

which connect-one on each side-with the go bottoms of water-drums. In the space' directly underneath 'the shell'and between the water-drums and tube nests is located the furnace, fitted with a suitable grate and'with bridge-walls on each side, the ash-pit beingi'qg, underneath. In the row of circulating-tubes a next to the furnace on each side some or all f of the tubes have a loop projecting vout over the grate and underneath the shell, thus protecting the latter andthe horizontal sections roo of downcast pipes from' the direct heat of the fire and increasing the heating-surface where the heat is most effective. The drums,tube nests, furnace, and ash-pan are suitably inclosed withinmason ry walls or within a sheetmetal casing bolted together in removable sections and lined with non-conducting material, and at each side overthe tube nests and steam-dru ms this casin g or masonry opens into suitable uptakes for the waste gases, which uptakes join and connect with the stack or flue. Suitable defiecting-walls and covers of thin fire-tile are properly located on each side in and on the tube nests to guide the flame and hot gases over the entire heating-surface in the most effective manner. The circulating-tubes are so arranged in rows that any one or more of them can be taken out without disturbing any of the others or any permanent part of the boiler. Suitable doors are arranged in convenient positions in the uptakes and in the casing or masonry to give access to the tube nests and to the soot-pits below these nests and under the water-drums. On each side, where the steam-drums openv into the shell, suitable baffle-plates are arranged to dfiect spray and water downward to thebottom of the shell and the downcast pipes and allow the steam to escape to the top of the shelll and the steam-pipe. The downcast pipes are so arranged that in certain sections at the bottom of the boiler below the water-drums the circulating currents of water meet in a dead-middle and stop or run into a dead-end and stop. At these points all sediment collects and is removed by the bottom blow-off valves located at these points. A suitable surface blow-valve is pro'- vided'with an internal pipe-opening near the water-line in the shell. The feed-water enters at the top elbows of the downcast pipes and is projected directly down the vertical parts of these pipes to the water-drums, thus preventing any coldfeed-water from entering the shell or circulating-tubes directly.

In operation the boiler is first filled with water to the proper height in the shell, which height is shown by the ordinary glass gage and try-cocks suitably connected. Fire is then started in the furnace, and as soon as the heat strikes the circulating-tubes steam commences to form in small globules and rises upfthrough the tubes to the surface of the water. As the heat increases this process becomes more rapid and the rise of the steam globules inthe circulating-tubes very quickly becomes so great as to carry the water with them mechanically, thus starting the circulafion. v The circulation thuscommenced must necessarily continue as long as heat remains in the furnace, for as soon as the wateris projected up through the tubes into the steamdrums it pours out into the shell, falls immediately through the downcast tubes to the water-drums, and is ldirectly returned to the circulating-tubes to repeat the circuit. This process does not depend at all upon the flow of feed into the boiler or of steam out of it,

as it will go on precisely the same whether the feed and steam valves be shut or open. This process keeps the circulating-tubes scoured clean and practically. full of water throughout their entire length without regard to the height of water-level in shell, as shown by the water-gage.

The construction and organization thus briefiy outlined will now be described in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whicl1--L Figure 1 is a front View, half in elevation and half in section, of a double-ended boiler constructed and organized according to the present invention with two waterdrums on each side and inclosed in a sheetmetal casing, the section being taken upon.

the axes of the steam-drums and shell. Fig. 2 isl a similar sideview of the same, the section beingtaken across the middle of the shell and furnace. Fig.3 is a similar top view,the section being taken on the line 3 3 of Figs. l and 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are views similar to Figs. l and 2 ot' a boiler having one water-drum on each side and inclosed in a sheet-metal casing. Figs. 6 and 7 are similar views ofa boiler of the same construction inclosed in masonry.

Referring now particularly to Figs. l to 3, it is to be understood that the shell A and steam-drums B at the top of the boiler are welded or riveted up, fianged conically or spherically at the ends a, as shown, and riveted or welded together, forming a single steam and water chamber with fianged plateheads b in the outboard ends of the steamdrums. Man or hand holes and plates c are placed in the shell or in the ends of the steamdrums, as desired, giving perfect access to all parts `of this chamber. At the bottom the four water-drums D are similarly welded or riveted up and supplied with fianged plateheads b at both ends, the heads being -fitted with man or hand holes and plates c, preferably at the inner end, as shown.

The circulating-tubes E are bent on templets or formers to substantially the shape shown in Fig. 2 and are made in duplicate rows or sets, so thata t-ube of a certain shape (designated by a number or letter) will go in its proper position in any row or set. The number of tubcs in a set or the number of rows or sets may be varied, and the vertical distance between the centers of steam and water drums may also be varied without changing the bends or templets which are usedl to curve the tubes, these bends being all above the line d or below the line f, Fig. 2. In this way the design for a boiler usingthe same diameter of circulating-tubes, shell, and drums may be made broader or narrower, higher or lower, longer or shorter, to suit Varying conditions without altering the standard templets by which the boilers are built, the straight length between the lines d and f, the lengths of vshell and drums, andthev number of rows of tubes being the only variables. I

IOO

IKO

For the purpose of protecting the shell and downcast pipes and increasing the heatingsurface a shield p, formed, preferably, of a layer of fire-brick tile, is used, and some of the'circulating-tubes f are provided with furnace-loops t, upon which this shield is supported. These furnace-loops may be provided in alternatetubes of the inner rows on opposite sides of the boiler, or arranged together in diagonally-opposite parts of the boiler, as shown in Fig. 3. The circulating-tubes being placed in vertical and straight rows running transversely to the axis of the drums and shell and the rows being also spaced far enough apart to allow ample clearance for passin ga tubein between any two of thel rows, or at least in each alternate space, it follows that perfect access can be had for inspection and for cleaning the outside of all tubes through the casing-doors g and the removable uptakes h, an ordinary or flat tube-brush on the end of a rod being used for this purpose.

In view of the location and arrangement ofthe man orhand holes c and the fact that all the tube ends are expanded from the` inside into drilled holes in the drums, also that the furnace-loops t are on alternate Atubes only or arranged together in diagonally-opposite parts of the boiler, it also follows that the ends of any tube may be freed from the drums by simply cutting off or loosening up the projecting lips inside and driving the tube ends out of the drums, the clearance between tubes in each row being sufficient to allow this, and that the tube being thus cleared from the drums can, by a suitable small bar and pair of tongs, be pushed sidewise into the space between the rows and pulled out bodily through the uptake or one of the casing-doors g. In the sole case of a tube having a furnace-loop it is necessary to remove parts of the furnace casing or grate, which is bolted and removable for this purpose. It also follows-that this process can be reversed and a new tube put in to replace the oneY taken out, this latter operation being further facilitated by passing a wire rope through the tube and the tube-holes in the drums in order to haul the tube into place. The spring of the tube, owing to the bends, also facilifates both the taking out and putting in.

,It further follows from the above-described arrangement that any tube or tube-hole may be plugged by simply reaching the arm or a pair of tongs inside of the drum or shell, entering the tapered plugs in the proper holes, and then giving them a slight tap with a hammer, the steam-pressure acting afterward to.

keep the plugs in place. It still' further follows from what has been said that a wire rope can be pushed through anytube from 'one drum to another, (the curves all being large enough to allow this,) and that to this rope can be attached an ordinary ilexible tube.

brush or scraper, which can be drawn vback and forth through the tube, thus thoroughly cleaning the inside.

The downcast pipesand fittings FY connect the bottom of the shell with the bottom of thel water-drums. In these downcast pipes the bottom blow-off valves are connected in the extremity of the dead end at m on each side.

Vhen the downcast pipes are in duplicate, one set vat the front and one set at the back, as in large boilers, there are no deadends; but on each side in this case there isa dead middlepart, where the bottom blowolf valves are connected. On the top elbows in these downcast pipes the feed-valves are located at n with internal pipes pointing down? ward. The downcast pipe fittings Z, which connect with the waterdrums, form legs or chairs for supporting the boiler, and the lower end of the water-gage pipe connects on one of these fittings at k, where the current changes direction, but where no sediment collects. The upper end of said pipe-.connects on the top of the shell at k.

Baffie-plates j are placed in the shell on each side over the mouths ofthe steam-dru ms, and consist of two or more sheet-metal plates secured in an inclined position and overlapping one another, as shown, so as to deflect the water downward and allow the steam to escape upward between the plates, as indicated by the arrows i. The surface blow-pipe e is so arranged as to skim off the surface of water in the shell when in operation.

The furnace H and the ash-pan P extend between the water-drums D and bridge-walls w and from the front to the back offthe casing or masonry. y,When a sheet-metal casing is used, the non-conducting lining of.k the same is protected throughout the furnace byy suitable fire-brick tile, and, as previously described, the furnace -loops t in the Acirculat- `ing-tubes support a layer or shield pcf firebrick tile for the same purpose, and, in addition, to protect the shell from the direct action of the fire. The grate G may-be of any desired style in the centralpart, where it is flat and rectangular; but at the sides it is formed by inclined grate-barsx y, which extend .from the side bar z to the bridge-wall w and the inside water-drum heads b. The inclined grate-bar y forms a curved shield or guard over the drum-head b and hand-hole andplate c to protect the latter from the tire. The bars 0c and y rest loosely upon the side bar z, and can be easily removed for access to the hand-hole from above aswell as underneath the grate. The fire-tile deecting-walls R on IOO IIO

each side in and over the tube nests are supbut differs from the boiler of Figsj-t and 5, in

that an inclosure of masonry and cast-iron plates is substituted for the sheet-metal cas- 1n0'. v

It will be seen from the above description that by my construction I provide a boiler of the general class described which is light,

compact, and simple in its construction; in which all the parts are easily accessible for cleaning, inspection, and repair; in which the circulating-tubes can be separately removed and replaced without disturbing other tubes or permanent parts of the boiler; in which any circulating tube can be re-expanded or plugged at both ends without entering the boiler, except with the arms; in which every circulating-tube and all other parts of the heating-surface in the boiler can be.thor oughly cleaned with a brush or scraper both inside and outside; in which every rivet and the full length ot' every seam' in the boiler can be recalked without disturbing any permanent part of the boiler; in which every part of the boiler(except the interior of the tubes) can be examined with the eye, and in which every part ot' the boiler (except certain parts of the tubes) can be touched with the hand; in which the heating-surfaceis so arranged as to cause a positively constant,

reliable, steady, and rapid circulation of all the water over it, and in which this circulation is automatic-that is, not dependent upon the action of a pump or upon the drawing ott of steam from the boiler-but caused directly and solely by the action of the fire, thereby permitting salt-water to be usedand allowing the boiler to be forced hard without danger; in which every circulating-tube and all parts of the heating-surface of the boiler are allowed to expand and contract independently, thus avoiding danger from sudden or unequal heating and cooling; in which the use of bracing or stays of any kind is entirely avoided; in which there is a comparatively large space included for steam and water, thus allowing eective separation of the steam from the water within the boiler proper and avoiding sudden iluctuations'of waterle'vel or steam-pressure, and, finally, a boiler in which there are no butt-welds, screwed joints, bolted joints, glands,steel or iron castings, dead-end tubes, straight tubes, or tube ends in the tire-surface or heating-surface.

It will be understood that the construction shown and described is but one of the forms in which the improvements constituting my invention may be embodied, and that my invention is not to be limited to this specific construction, which may be varied widely while retaining the essential features of the invention. It is evident, also, that many of the special features claimed are applicable in other classes of boilers.

Vthat I claim isl. In a steam-boiler, the combination, with horizontal steam and water drums and vertical or substantially vertical circulating-tubes connecting said drums, of a shell A, extending transversely to the boiler and` communieating with the steam and water drums to form a chamber for steam and water, substantially as described.

2. In a steam-boiler, the combinatiomwith one or more horizontal water-drums and a plurality of horizontal stean1-drums,`of vertical or substantially vertical circulating-tubes connecting said drums, and a shell located between said steam-drums and communicating with the steam and water drums to form a central chamber for steam and water, substantially as described.

3. In a steam-boiler, the combination, with one or more horizontal water-drums, of a horizontal steam-drum extending transversely to the boiler, vertical or substantially vertical circulating-tubes connecting said drums, and a shell A, communicating with said steam and water drums to form a chamber for steam and water, substantially as described.

4. In a steam-boiler, the combination, with one or more horizontal water-drums, of a plurality of horizontal steam-drums extending transversely tothe boiler, vertical or substantially vertical circulating-tubes connecting said drums, and a shell A, located between said steam-drums and communicating with the steam and water drums to form a chamber for steam and water, substantially as de- TOO a shell A, extending transversely to the boiler between said steam-drums and opening at each end into one of said drums to f orm with the drums a steam-chamber, substantially as described.

6. In a steam-boiler, the combination, with one or more horizontal water-drums on each side and extending transversely totheboiler, of horizontal steam-drums extending transversely to the boiler, vertical or substantially vertical circulating tubes connecting said drums, and a horizontal` shell A, extending transversely to the boiler between the said steam-drums and communicating with said steam and water drums to form a chamber for steam and water, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with horizontal steam and water drums on each side of the boiler and the shell A, extending transversely to the boiler and communicating with said steam and water drums, of vertical or substantially vertical circulating-tubes located in nests on each side of the boiler and connecting said drums, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with horizontal steam IIO each side of .the boiler and'bent to allow of expansion and contraction and sprung into place in said drums, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with horizontal steam and water drums on each side of the boiler, and the shell A, extending transversely to the boiler and communicating with said steam and water drums, of vert-ical or substantially vertical circulating-tubes connecting said drums, said tubes being located in nests on each side and arranged with space between rows for the removal and insertion of any tube without disturbing any of the others,sub stantially as described.

10. The combination, with horizontal steam and water drums on each side of the boiler, and the shell A, extending transversely to the boiler and communicating with said steam and water drums, of vertical or substantially vert-ical circulating-tubes connecting said drums, said tubes beingbent to allow of expansion and contract-ion and sprunginto place and expanded in said drums and arranged in rows, with space between rows for the removal and insertion of any tube without disturbing any of the others, substantially as described.'

11. In a steam-boiler, the combination, with horizontal steam and water drums on each side of the boiler and vertical or substantially vertical circulating-tubes connecting said drums, of the shell A, extending trans-v versely to the boiler and connecting withv the c steam-drums to form a steam-chamber, and the downcast pipe or pipes F, connecting said shell and water-drums, -substantially as described.

12. The combination, with horizontal steam and water drums on each side of the boiler and vertical or substantially vertical circulating-tubes connecting said drums and arranged in nests on each side, of the shell A, extending transversely to the boiler and communicating with the steam-drums to form a steam-chamber, and the downcast pipe or pipes F, connecting said shell and waterdrums, substantially as described.

13. The co1nbination,with horizontal steam and water drums on each side of the boiler and vert-ical or substantially vertical circulating-tubes connecting said drums, said tubes being located in nests on each side and arranged in rows with space between rows for the removal and insertion of any tube without disturbing any of the others, of the shell A, Iextending transversely to the boiler and communicating with the steam-drums to form a steam-chamber, and the downcastppipe or pipes F, connectingsaid shell and waterdrums, substantially as described.

14. In a steam-boiler, the combination, with horizontal steam and water drums and a shell A, communicating with said steam and water drums, of vertical or substantially vertical circulating-tubes having the loops t extending over the furnace and beneath the shell, substantially as described.

15. In asteam-boiler, the'combination, with horizontal steam and Water drums on each side of the boiler, and the shell'A, extending transversely to the boiler and communicating 7o with said steam and water drums, of vertical or substantially Vertical circulating-tubes located in nests on each side, connecting said drums and having the loops extending over the furnace and beneath the shell, substautially as described.

16. The combination, with horizontal steam and water drums on each side of the boiler, and the shell A, extending transversely to the boiler, of the downcast pipe or pipes F, con- 8o necting the shell with the water-drums, and vertical or substantially vert-ical circulatingtubes located in nests on each side and connectin g said drums, said tubes having the loops t, extending over the furnace and beneath the shell and downcast tubes, substantially as described.

17 In a steam-boiler, the combination, with horizontal steam and water drumsand verti-l cal or substantially vertical circulating-tubes 9o connecting said drulns,vof the downcast pipe or pipes F, having extensions or dead-ends m for collecting sediment, substantially as described. -g

18. In a steam-boiler, the combination, with horizontal steam and waterdrumsand vertical or substantially vertical circulating-tubes connecting said drums, of the downcast pipe F, extending horizontally and'downward, and

the feed-pipe it, entering said downcast pipe 10o at the downward bend to deliver the feedwater directly down the pipe,`substantially as described.

19. The combination, with the steam-drum B and shell A, of the baffle-plate consisting of 1o 5 a series of inclined parallel plates j,with space between them for the passage of the steam upward, substantially as described.

' 20. The combination, with the steamdrums l B, of the shell A, extending between and com- 11o municating directly with said drums, and inclined baille-plates 7' inside the shell for directing the water downward from vthe mouths of the steam-drums, substantially as described. c

21. The combination, with horizontal steam andwater drums and the shell A, of circulating-tubes E, having the loops t extending over the furnace and beneath the shell, and the shield p, supported by said loops, substan- 12o tially as described.

In testimony whereof LI have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM COWLES.

Witnesses:

C. J. SAWYER, J. J. KENNEDY. 

